Newry: Man dies after being shot multiple times at close range
- Published
Police say the 58-year-old victim crashed his car into a nearby property after the attack
A 58-year-old man killed in Newry was shot a number of times at close range, possibly as part of a feud, police have said.
The shooting occurred in Ardcarn Park, a residential area, shortly after 18:00 GMT on Thursday.
The victim died at the scene. His name has not been released by the police.
Police said one line of inquiry is that the shooting was part of a cross-border crime feud, possibly involving drugs, and a murder investigation has begun.
Supt Norman Haslett says the "level of violence used was reprehensible"
The killing was a "brutal and a senseless attack on a defenceless man", said Supt Norman Haslett on Friday.
He said the 58-year-old victim, who was a husband and father, crashed his car into a nearby property after the attack.
Earlier reports suggest the victim was shot a number of times as he stood behind his car.
At the scene: Kelly Bonner, BBC News NI
Shocking and brutal - that's how this killing has been described.
Neighbours describe hearing what they thought was fireworks going off, only to realise someone had been killed outside their door.
Police and forensics remain at the scene, trying to establish what happened here.
Politicians have condemned the attack and urged anyone with any information to get in contact with the police.
SDLP councillor Michael Savage called the attack "a reckless act... when families would have been about".
Sinn Féin assembly member Liz Kimmins said: "This was a very brutal killing and a family have now been left grieving and the community left very, very frightened.
The man died at the scene at Ardcarn Park
"It's just horrendous news. There's just absolutely no room for this type of criminality on our streets and those responsible have nothing to offer."
Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie described the murder as terrible.
"More guns on our streets, more victims, more families grieving. Senseless, just senseless," he tweeted.
Alliance Party assembly member and Policing Board member Nuala McAllister said: "This is a call back to the dark old days and we cannot allow those who want to drag us back to the past to do so."